[I-G-5]

[Deemer]

(Masha joins Treplev in the garden.)

MASHA: Are you all right?

TREPLEV: I'm fine.

MASHA: Your mother feels bad.

TREPLEV: She's an actress. She's acting as if she feels bad.

MASHA: I loved your play.

TREPLEV: Did you?

MASHA: What I saw of it.

TREPLEV: What did you like about it?

MASHA: Everything.

TREPLEV: That covers a lot of ground. What, for example?

MASHA: I liked Nina. She's very good.

TREPLEV: What about the play?

MASHA: I told you I loved it.

TREPLEV: Could you be more specific?

MASHA: What do you mean?

TREPLEV: What specificly did you like about the play?

MASHA: I told you, I liked Nina.

TREPLEV: Her acting. What about her character, her language?

MASHA: Of course. I liked everything.

TREPLEV: How did the play make you feel?

MASHA: Proud to know you.

TREPLEV: If it had been written by someone you didn't know, how would it make you feel?

MASHA: But I know you!

TREPLEV: But if you didn't . . .?

MASHA: Why are you asking me all these questions?

TREPLEV: To find out what you like about the play.

MASHA: I told you I like everything. I just came to tell you your mother wants to apologize and I know how bad she made you feel and I wanted you to know that I loved your play so maybe you'd feel better.

TREPLEV: You want me to feel better. This is your motivation?

MASHA: Why are you doing this to me?

TREPLEV: Because you're a stupid young girl! You haven't the slightest idea what my play is about!

(He storms off into the house. Masha follows him.)

[follow them]